Rosternomics
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John Schuerholz

John Schuerholz

Born Oct 1, 1940 · Baltimore, MD · age 85

Built two landmark franchises: the 1985 World Series champion Kansas City Royals and the Atlanta Braves dynasty that won 14 straight division titles and the 1995 title. In 2017 he became the first executive elected to the Hall of Fame primarily for his work as a general manager.

23 seasons with salary-era data across 2 stints. All figures are franchise-level outcomes during the tenure, not solely attributable to one executive.

Titles2
Pennants6
Playoffs15
Record2095–1561
Win %0.573
+181.0WAB — wins above budget3rd/195 execs
+167.0Talent above budget — roster-construction alpha (talent your budget bought above expectation)2nd/195 execs
2.44Acquisition leverage — playoff pts each bought win added, given the roster it joined (did you buy where wins matter?)4th/195 execs
-118.8WAR surplus (era-neutral, win-equiv)176th/195 execs
-133Roster surplus $M142nd/195 execs

How the roster was sourced

by valueby volume

Share of gross-positive acquired fWAR by channel (vs. league average).

Build channels — net fWAR

Acquired minus surrendered / signed minus walked.

Home-grown (draft/intl)+468.5
Trade-61.4
Free agency-152.4
Rule 5 / minor draft+0.1
Sourcing mix: 61% draft · 18% FA · 21% trade · 0% R5

Tenure breakdown

TeamRoleYearsSzns WAB WAB/yr TAB WAR surp HG Trade FA R5 AcqLev W-L% POPenWS Surp $M
▸ Braves GM 1991–2007 17 +182.6 +10.74 +176.2 -63.8 +315.3 -55.4 -125.0 +0.0 2.53 0.593 1451 -113
▸ Royals GM 1982–1990 6 -1.6 -0.27 -9.2 -55.1 +153.3 -6.0 -27.4 +0.0 1.91 0.516 111 -20
Career total (1985+ data) 23 +181.0 +167.0 -118.8 +468.5 -61.4 -152.4 +0.1 2.44 0.573 156 2 -133

Players acquired — 320 players, by realized fWAR for the franchise (scroll for more)

PlayerPosTeam How Year fWAR
Greg Maddux P ATL Free agency 1992 +74.1
Andruw Jones OF ATL Intl FA 1993 +64.3
Freddie Freeman 1B ATL Draft 2007 +42.5
Brian McCann C ATL Draft 2002 +41.1
Kevin Appier P KCR Draft 1987 +40.0
Bret Saberhagen P KCR Draft 1982 +34.9
Jason Heyward OF ATL Draft 2007 +19.6
Kevin Millwood P ATL Draft 1993 +19.3
Rafael Furcal SS ATL Intl FA 1996 +17.9
Marcus Giles 2B ATL Draft 1996 +17.9
Charlie Leibrandt P KCR Trade 1983 +16.8
Tom Gordon P KCR Draft 1986 +16.1
Kevin Seitzer 3B KCR Draft 1983 +16.1
Mike Macfarlane C KCR Draft 1985 +14.2
Danny Tartabull DH/OF KCR Trade 1986 +13.9
Julio Teherán P ATL Intl FA 2007 +13.8
Martín Prado 3B ATL Intl FA 2001 +12.7
Gary Sheffield OF ATL Trade 2002 +12.1
Danny Jackson P KCR Draft 1982 +11.8
Jeff Montgomery P KCR Trade 1988 +10.8
Brian Jordan OF ATL Free agency 1998 +9.4
Charlie Morton P ATL Draft 2002 +9.4
Yunel Escobar 3B/SS ATL Draft 2005 +9.0
Denny Neagle P ATL Trade 1996 +8.6
Kris Medlen P ATL Draft 2006 +8.1
Kelly Johnson 2B ATL Draft 2000 +8.0
Jair Jurrjens P ATL Trade 2007 +8.0
Édgar Rentería SS ATL Trade 2005 +7.6
John Burkett P ATL Free agency 2000 +7.3
Mike Hampton P ATL Trade 2002 +7.3
Hipólito Pichardo P KCR Intl FA 1987 +7.0
Bo Jackson OF KCR Draft 1986 +6.6
Andrés Galarraga 1B ATL Free agency 1997 +6.5
Greg McMichael P ATL Trade 1993 +6.5
Otis Nixon OF ATL Trade 1991 +6.4
Fred McGriff 1B ATL Free agency 1995 +6.3
John Thomson P ATL Free agency 2003 +6.2
Steve Farr P KCR Trade 1985 +6.2
Jeff Francoeur OF ATL Draft 2002 +5.8
Tommy Hanson P ATL Draft 2005 +5.8
Kurt Stillwell SS KCR Trade 1987 +5.6
Kenny Lofton OF ATL Trade 1997 +5.2
Mike Remlinger P ATL Trade 1998 +4.9
Fred McGriff 1B ATL Trade 1993 +4.8
Buddy Black P KCR Trade 1982 +4.8
Gerald Williams OF ATL Trade 1997 +4.6
Deion Sanders OF ATL Free agency 1991 +3.9
Ryan Langerhans OF ATL Draft 1998 +3.6
Brian McRae OF KCR Draft 1985 +3.6
Julio Franco 2B/SS ATL Free agency 2001 +3.3
Walt Weiss SS ATL Free agency 1997 +3.1
Jim Eisenreich OF KCR Trade 1986 +3.0
Horacio Ramírez P ATL Draft 1997 +2.8
John Rocker P ATL Draft 1993 +2.8
Bob Boone C KCR Free agency 1988 +2.8
Jim Sundberg C KCR Trade 1985 +2.7
Kerry Ligtenberg P ATL Draft 1997 +2.6
Odalis Pérez P ATL Intl FA 1994 +2.5
Jonny Venters P ATL Draft 2003 +2.3
Lonnie Smith OF KCR Trade 1985 +2.3
Mike Boddicker P KCR Free agency 1990 +2.1
Mike Magnante P KCR Draft 1988 +2.1
Paul Byrd P ATL Free agency 2002 +2.0
Jorge Campillo P ATL Free agency 2007 +2.0
Keith Lockhart 2B ATL Trade 1997 +2.0
Charlie O'Brien C ATL Free agency 1993 +2.0
Rudy Seánez P ATL Free agency 1997 +2.0
Charles Thomas OF ATL Draft 2000 +2.0
Floyd Bannister P KCR Trade 1987 +1.9
Bob Hamelin 1B/DH KCR Draft 1988 +1.9
Mike Bielecki P ATL Trade 1991 +1.8
Chris Hammond P ATL Free agency 2001 +1.8
Scott Bankhead P KCR Draft 1984 +1.8
David Howard SS KCR Draft 1986 +1.8
Darren Holmes P ATL Free agency 2002 +1.6
Storm Davis P KCR Free agency 1989 +1.5
Willie Harris 2B/OF ATL Free agency 2006 +1.4
Chris Reitsma P ATL Trade 2004 +1.4
Mike Gonzalez P ATL Trade 2007 +1.3
Macay McBride P ATL Draft 2001 +1.3
Adam LaRoche 1B ATL Draft 2000 +1.2
Jason Marquis P ATL Draft 1996 +1.2
Peter Moylan P ATL Trade 2006 +1.2
Steve Crawford P KCR Free agency 1989 +1.2
Dennis Martínez P ATL Free agency 1998 +1.1
Tim Spehr C KCR Draft 1988 +1.1
Mike Bielecki P ATL Free agency 1994 +1.0
Shane Reynolds P ATL Free agency 2003 +1.0
Jerry Don Gleaton P KCR Free agency 1986 +1.0
Danny Bautista OF ATL Trade 1996 +0.9
Grégor Blanco OF ATL Intl FA 2000 +0.9
Brad Clontz P ATL Draft 1992 +0.9
Alan Embree P ATL Trade 1997 +0.9
Robert Fick 1B/OF ATL Free agency 2003 +0.9
Kevin McGlinchy P ATL Draft 1995 +0.9
Damian Moss P ATL Intl FA 1993 +0.9
Will Ohman P ATL Trade 2007 +0.9
Joe Beckwith P KCR Trade 1983 +0.9
Luis Avilán P ATL Intl FA 2005 +0.8
Albie Lopez P ATL Free agency 2001 +0.8
José Oliva 3B ATL Trade 1992 +0.8
Kirk Gibson OF KCR Free agency 1990 +0.8
Larry Owen C KCR Free agency 1987 +0.8
Jay Howell P ATL Free agency 1993 +0.7
Bill Pecota 3B/SS ATL Free agency 1993 +0.7
Rafael Soriano P ATL Trade 2006 +0.7
Juan Berenguer P ATL Free agency 1991 +0.6
Damon Berryhill C ATL Trade 1991 +0.6
Wilson Betemit 3B ATL Intl FA 1996 +0.6
Blaine Boyer P ATL Draft 2000 +0.6
Jermaine Dye OF ATL Draft 1993 +0.6
Ray King P ATL Trade 1996 +0.6
Terrell Wade P ATL Intl FA 1991 +0.6
Jerome Walton OF ATL Free agency 1996 +0.6
Steve Balboni 1B/DH KCR Trade 1983 +0.6
Brad Wellman 2B KCR Free agency 1987 +0.6
Jeff Bennett P ATL Free agency 2006 +0.5
Kyle Davies P ATL Draft 2001 +0.5
Matt Franco 1B/3B ATL Free agency 2001 +0.5
Tyler Yates P ATL Free agency 2006 +0.5
Brian Bevil P KCR Draft 1990 +0.5
Antonio Alfonseca P ATL Free agency 2003 +0.4
Adam Bernero P ATL Free agency 2005 +0.4
Buddy Carlyle P ATL Free agency 2006 +0.4
Randall Delgado P ATL Intl FA 2006 +0.4
Chad Paronto P ATL Free agency 2005 +0.4
Curtis Pride OF ATL Free agency 1998 +0.4
Randall Simon 1B ATL Intl FA 1992 +0.4
Howard Battle 3B ATL Free agency 1998 +0.3
Román Colón P ATL Intl FA 1995 +0.3
Will Cunnane P ATL Free agency 2003 +0.3
Dave Martinez OF ATL Free agency 2000 +0.3
Óscar Villarreal P ATL Trade 2005 +0.3
Dewayne Wise OF ATL Free agency 2003 +0.3
Angel Salazar SS KCR Trade 1986 +0.3
Vinny Castilla 3B ATL Draft 1991 +0.2
Cory Gearrin P ATL Draft 2007 +0.2
Bernard Gilkey OF ATL Free agency 2001 +0.2
Nick Green 2B/SS ATL Draft 1998 +0.2
Wally Joyner 1B ATL Trade 1999 +0.2
James Parr P ATL Draft 2004 +0.2
Mike Remlinger P ATL Free agency 2006 +0.2
Jordan Schafer OF ATL Draft 2005 +0.2
Joel Johnston P KCR Draft 1988 +0.2
Brent Mayne C KCR Draft 1989 +0.2
Jorge Pedre C KCR Draft 1987 +0.2
Israel Sánchez P KCR Draft 1982 +0.2
Dar Smith P KCR Trade 1990 +0.2
Kurt Abbott 2B/SS ATL Free agency 2001 +0.1
Kevin Barry P ATL Draft 2001 +0.1
J. C. Boscán C ATL Intl FA 1996 +0.1
Chris Brock P ATL Draft 1992 +0.1
Danny Heep OF ATL Trade 1991 +0.1
Damon Hollins OF ATL Free agency 2001 +0.1
Darrell May P ATL Draft 1992 +0.1
Sam McConnell P ATL Trade 2004 +0.1
Jason Schmidt P ATL Draft 1991 +0.1
Carl Schutz P ATL Draft 1993 +0.1
Randy St. Claire P ATL Free agency 1991 +0.1
Phil Stockman P ATL Trade 2006 +0.1
Jerry Willard C ATL Free agency 1991 +0.1
Brad Woodall P ATL Intl FA 1991 +0.1
Jim Campbell P KCR Draft 1987 +0.1
Andy McGaffigan P KCR Free agency 1990 +0.1
Russ Morman 1B KCR Free agency 1989 +0.1
Bob Stoddard P KCR Free agency 1987 +0.1
Mike Cather P ATL Trade 1996 +0.0
Norm Charlton P ATL Free agency 1998 -0.0
David Cortés P ATL Trade 1998 -0.0
Mark Davis P ATL Trade 1992 -0.0
Matt DeSalvo P ATL Free agency 2007 +0.0
Tim Drew P ATL Free agency 2004 -0.0
John Ennis P ATL Draft 1998 +0.0
Tommy Gregg 1B/OF ATL Free agency 1997 -0.0
Mike Hubbard C ATL Free agency 2000 -0.0
Steve Karsay P ATL Trade 2001 -0.0
John LeRoy P ATL Draft 1993 -0.0
Pablo Martínez SS ATL Trade 1996 -0.0
Dan Meyer P ATL Draft 2002 +0.0
Alejandro Peña P ATL Trade 1991 -0.0
Tony Peña SS ATL Intl FA 1999 +0.0
Dan Petry P ATL Trade 1991 +0.0
Aaron Small P ATL Free agency 2001 -0.0
Scott Sobkowiak P ATL Draft 1998 +0.0
Tim Spooneybarger P ATL Draft 1998 +0.0
Everett Stull P ATL Free agency 1999 -0.0
Tom Thobe P ATL Trade 1995 +0.0
Joe Winkelsas P ATL Intl FA 1996 -0.0
Terry Bell C KCR Trade 1986 +0.0
Stu Cole 2B/DH KCR Draft 1987 -0.0
Archie Corbin P KCR Trade 1990 -0.0
José de Jesús P KCR Intl FA 1983 +0.0
Luis Encarnación P KCR Rule 5 1987 +0.0
Mike LaCoss P KCR Trade 1985 +0.0
Rudy Law OF KCR Free agency 1986 +0.0
Mark Lee P KCR Trade 1988 +0.0
Scotti Madison 3B KCR Free agency 1986 -0.0
Carlos Maldonado P KCR Intl FA 1986 +0.0
Bobby Moore OF KCR Draft 1987 -0.0
Melido Perez P KCR Intl FA 1983 -0.0
Harvey Pulliam OF KCR Draft 1986 +0.0
Jeff Schulz OF KCR Draft 1983 -0.0
Andy Stewart C KCR Intl FA 1989 -0.0
Mel Stottlemyre P KCR Trade 1987 -0.0
Cory Aldridge OF ATL Draft 1997 -0.1
José Ascanio P ATL Intl FA 2001 -0.1
Francisley Bueno P ATL Intl FA 2006 -0.1
Paul Byrd P ATL Trade 1996 -0.1
Matt Childers P ATL Free agency 2004 -0.1
Steve Colyer P ATL Free agency 2006 -0.1
Joey Dawley P ATL Trade 2002 -0.1
John Foster P ATL Draft 1999 -0.1
Chad Fox P ATL Trade 1996 -0.1
Jesse Garcia 2B/SS ATL Free agency 2003 -0.1
Wes Helms 1B/3B ATL Draft 1994 -0.1
Marty Malloy 2B ATL Intl FA 1992 -0.1
Pascual Matos C ATL Intl FA 1992 -0.1
Joe Nelson P ATL Draft 1996 -0.1
Gregg Olson P ATL Free agency 1994 -0.1
Pete Orr 2B/3B ATL Intl FA 1999 -0.1
Jay Powell P ATL Free agency 2005 -0.1
Andy Pratt P ATL Trade 2002 -0.1
Royce Ring P ATL Trade 2007 -0.1
Chris Seelbach P ATL Draft 1991 -0.1
Mike Sharperson 2B/3B ATL Free agency 1995 -0.1
Steve Sisco 2B/OF ATL Trade 2000 -0.1
Dave Stevens P ATL Free agency 2000 -0.1
Pedro Swann OF ATL Draft 1991 -0.1
Tim Unroe 1B ATL Free agency 2000 -0.1
Jorge Vásquez P ATL Trade 2004 -0.1
Don Wengert P ATL Free agency 1999 -0.1
Matt Young OF ATL Intl FA 2004 -0.1
Bob Buchanan P KCR Free agency 1987 -0.1
Richard Dotson P KCR Free agency 1989 -0.1
Alan Hargesheimer P KCR Trade 1984 -0.1
Kevin Koslofski OF KCR Draft 1984 -0.1
Ed Pierce P KCR Draft 1989 -0.1
Dan Schatzeder P KCR Free agency 1990 -0.1
Dwight Taylor DH/OF KCR Trade 1985 -0.1
Armando Almanza P ATL Free agency 2003 -0.2
Jung Bong P ATL Intl FA 1997 -0.2
Adam Butler P ATL Intl FA 1995 -0.2
José Capellán P ATL Intl FA 1998 -0.2
Bruce Chen P ATL Intl FA 1993 -0.2
Derrin Ebert P ATL Draft 1994 -0.2
Wayne Franklin P ATL Free agency 2006 -0.2
Chuck James P ATL Draft 2002 -0.2
Mike Kelly OF ATL Draft 1991 -0.2
Brent Lillibridge OF ATL Trade 2007 -0.2
Tom Martin P ATL Trade 2004 -0.2
Clint Sammons C ATL Draft 2004 -0.2
Doug Sisk P ATL Free agency 1991 -0.2
Steve Torrealba C ATL Intl FA 1995 -0.2
Ismael Villegas P ATL Trade 1996 -0.2
Craig Wilson 1B/OF ATL Free agency 2007 -0.2
Jay Baller P KCR Free agency 1990 -0.2
Thad Bosley OF KCR Trade 1987 -0.2
Stan Clarke P KCR Free agency 1988 -0.2
Jeff Conine 1B/OF KCR Draft 1987 -0.2
Luis de los Santos 1B KCR Draft 1984 -0.2
Rick Luecken P KCR Trade 1986 -0.2
Steve Shifflett P KCR Intl FA 1989 -0.2
Lonnie Smith OF KCR Free agency 1987 -0.2
Héctor Wagner P KCR Intl FA 1986 -0.2
Bárbaro Cañizares 1B ATL Intl FA 2006 -0.3
Joey Devine P ATL Draft 2005 -0.3
Jesse Garcia 2B/SS ATL Trade 2000 -0.3
Trey Hodges P ATL Draft 2000 -0.3
Keith Lockhart 2B ATL Free agency 2002 -0.3
Corky Miller C ATL Free agency 2006 -0.3
Rod Nichols P ATL Free agency 1995 -0.3
Matt Whiteside P ATL Free agency 2001 -0.3
Nick Capra OF KCR Free agency 1987 -0.3
Gene Garber P KCR Free agency 1987 -0.3
Dane Iorg OF KCR Trade 1984 -0.3
Joe Borowski P ATL Trade 1995 -0.4
Kevin Gryboski P ATL Trade 2002 -0.4
Brandon Hicks 2B ATL Draft 2007 -0.4
Anthony Lerew P ATL Draft 2001 -0.4
George Lombard OF ATL Draft 1994 -0.4
Raúl Mondesí OF ATL Free agency 2005 -0.4
Alejandro Peña P ATL Free agency 1992 -0.4
Todd Pratt C ATL Free agency 2005 -0.4
Armando Reynoso P ATL Draft 1991 -0.4
Marc Valdes P ATL Free agency 2001 -0.4
Chris Codiroli P KCR Free agency 1990 -0.4
Pete Filson P KCR Free agency 1989 -0.4
Larry McWilliams P KCR Trade 1989 -0.4
Rey Palacios C/1B/3B KCR Trade 1988 -0.4
Matt Winters OF KCR Trade 1989 -0.4
Manny Acosta P ATL Trade 2007 -0.5
Ozzie Guillén SS ATL Free agency 1998 -0.5
Mike Hessman 1B/3B ATL Draft 1996 -0.5
Travis Smith P ATL Free agency 2003 -0.5
Dennis Moeller P KCR Draft 1986 -0.5
Brayan Peña C ATL Intl FA 2000 -0.6
Mark Davis P KCR Free agency 1989 -0.6
Rico Brogna 1B ATL Free agency 2000 -0.7
Brandon Jones OF ATL Draft 2003 -0.7
Jo-Jo Reyes P ATL Draft 2003 -0.7
Sean Berry 3B KCR Draft 1986 -0.7
Steve Jeltz SS KCR Trade 1990 -0.7
Jorge Orta 2B/DH KCR Draft 1985 -0.7
Darren Bragg OF ATL Free agency 2002 -0.8
Mark DeRosa 2B/3B ATL Draft 1996 -0.8
Mike Heath C ATL Free agency 1991 -0.8
Phil Hiatt 3B/OF KCR Draft 1990 -0.9
Dwight Smith OF ATL Free agency 1995 -1.0
Chris Woodward SS ATL Free agency 2006 -1.0
Bobby Bonilla 3B/OF ATL Free agency 2000 -1.1
Lance Cormier P ATL Trade 2005 -1.1
Roberto Hernández P ATL Free agency 2003 -1.1
Andy Marte 1B/3B ATL Intl FA 2000 -1.1
Scott Thorman 1B ATL Draft 2000 -1.1
Diory Hernández SS ATL Intl FA 2002 -1.3
Bill Buckner 1B/OF KCR Free agency 1988 -1.3
Terry Shumpert 2B KCR Draft 1987 -1.4
Greg Pryor 3B/SS KCR Trade 1982 -1.6
Lynn Jones OF KCR Trade 1985 -1.7
Gary Thurman OF KCR Draft 1983 -1.8

WAB = wins above what the team's payroll predicted (resource-controlled). WAR surplus = era-neutral value (WAR minus payroll in win-equivalents). Roster surplus $M = dollar value of WAR over cost. Build channels (realized fWAR): HG = home-grown via amateur draft / international signing; Trade = acquired minus surrendered (incl. purchases/waivers); FA = signed minus walked; R5 = Rule-5 / minor-league-draft pickups. Credit follows the acquisition year — home-grown to the regime at the player's draft/signing (not whoever was in the chair when he peaked), trade/FA/R5 to the GM who made the move. Players acquired as prospects before debuting (e.g. Smoltz, Bagwell; Rule-5 picks like Uggla) are counted as trade/R5, not home-grown. All are franchise-level outcomes during the stint, not solely attributable to one executive.

Rosternomics — quantifying front-office skill, attribution-clean. Follow @rosternomics on X. Decision-makers on record back to 1933; resource-controlled metrics (WAR & payroll) cover 1985–2026.
Data: FanGraphs (WAR), Baseball-Reference & the Chadwick Bureau register (rosters, IDs), the Lahman Database, Baseball America prospect rankings (via The Baseball Cube), and public payroll records. Transaction and trade data was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by Retrosheet. Executive birth/death data via Wikidata (CC0); bios are original. Emoji graphics by OpenMoji (CC BY-SA 4.0).
All figures are franchise-level outcomes credited to the decision-maker in the acquisition year — not solely attributable to one executive.